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Why Hockey players rule: I know that other sports players do things like this, but it's usually backed by a ton of PR including photos. I've heard about more stuff like this (and experienced it as a child when I lost a cousin) from NHL players than any other sport.

Hockey ratings are up, for now: With the recent hype over the Olympics, hockey has getten more national attention in the US, but will the way the Stanley Cup Finals are being officiated (20 penalties called in last night's game) cause people to lose interest?

Let me expand on that so I don't seem like an idiot. The Bertuzzi-Moore hit put the spotlight on the sport near the end of one of the best seasons in a very long time. As much as I hate Bettman, the league's reaction was quick and the sentence was handed soon enough for the nonfan to remember seeing the clip on Sportscenter, and made it a lead story-- which pushed the NHL coverage, of quite some very close races to get into the playoffs, earlier in the show. And now people are getting hooked. Like I said, just a thought.

Hockey had it's chance early on in the 50's with televised games in the US, but the ownership of the 6 team league thought it affect the ticket sales too much. (I would quote the passage in Net Worth, but I can't find my copy) Playing the game and being exposed to it at an early age are two different things. Knowing the history and culture of the sport is what creates fans. But then, I grew up in a house with shrines to the numbers 1,7,9,10 and 12 in the basement (with a 19 being added in the 80s). Ratings (not neccesarily ticket sales) in this area have always been decent, even when the team was horrible. The NBA, NFL, MLB, and now NASCAR all have done huge marketing pushes that have worked. The NHL on the other hand tries to let the game sell itself, which is suicide. There was a push there with Gretzky in LA (who guest starred on an episode of SNL). But when wayne retired the league did little to build on the recognition, other than pepper the south of the country with expansion and reloated canadian teams. I had a point here somewhere, I think I could have just said: "The NHL has always had a problem selling itself, and needs to get it's head out of it's rear"

Tigers snag Pudge

I would like to point out that Illitch may just be trying to rebuild the Tigers in the same way that he did the Red Wings (without the car giveaways, though). A little history lesson in Detroit sports for those who are not familiar with the story... In the 80s, Illitch bought the Wings (then referred to many around here as the Dead Things). Through moves and long term commotments, as well as some creative marketing brought the team to what it is today. Illitch went on the record saying that he would be willing to spend money to get the team in order, but he didn't want to waste it. If the Tigers do not show MAJOR improvement this year, Dombrowski (the GM) will be gone) side note-- The Pudge signing may not affect the number of season ticket holders as much as the fact you have to be a season ticket holder to get a decent chance a All Star game tix when it's at Comerica.

People have expected Federov to take off this year for a long time. Many of the fans here (in Detroit) just didn't warm back up to him after his hold season in 98. Federov wants to the one and only superstar of a team, something that wasn't going to happen with the Wings. The only thing that shocked me is that he wnt to Anaheim and not LA.

"I hope I can do a better job than Mr. Bettman,"

This is bad for the sport in general (in the US). The potential stoppage may alienate casual fans, and a slightly better than beer league lineup isn't going have a draw like the NHL. And as for lack of kids, the last 5 games I've gone to, people have had their rugrats there, jumping about. I can't think of how many times I've had parents of kids have to walk their kids right in front of me during the damn play.

Why is Jeremy Roenick playing in game four tonight?

As a "smug" Wings fan. I had a bad feeling about this series from the get go. The Wings' started looking shaky back in the second to last game in the regular season when they struggled to tie Columbus. The loss to Chicago in overtime was a harbinger of this. I don't think the blame for the sweep should relly fall on CuJo, either... he put up the second best numbers in the first round of all teams. Giguere is on fire, and is going to be a tough nut for any team to crack. Honestly, the Wings were not playing playoff hockey. There was definitely something missing, and I'm not sure that you can point the finger at Lewis either. They lost as a team. Defensive miscues, and Dandenault generally playing with his head up his a**. ah well, I can finally say this: Go LEAFS!